Transport for Wales has told rugby fans planning to attend the Autumn International match at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 5 November not to travel in or out of Cardiff by train due to strike action.
Although Transport for Wales (TfW) is not involved in either the RMT or TSSA strike action taking place on the Saturday, its services will still be affected as it relies on Network Rail staff to run trains on much of the network.
Nick Millington, acting route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “I’d like to apologise to passengers for the continued disruption due to industrial action.
“We never like having to tell people not to travel by rail but ensuring people can safely get home has to be our priority.”
Inbound capacity by rail in the hours leading up to kick-off (15.15, Saturday 5 November) will be heavily reduced – two thirds lower than usual – and there will be no trains scheduled from Cardiff after the match, with the final service departing from Cardiff Central before 5pm. With up to 35,000 people potentially travelling into Cardiff by train for the international rugby matches, and more than 20,000 getting a return home, officials are concerned that the result could be a real scrum and have issued the warning in the hopes of tackling the problem head on beforehand.
Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, Transport for Wales managing director, said: “The safety of our passengers is always our primary concern and, due to the severe impact of the industrial action on our ability to run services, we are advising customers not to travel by train on Saturday 5 November and to make alternative travel arrangements.
“We’ll continue to work collaboratively with our partners to ensure we can support the event going ahead as safely as possible.”
With severe restrictions on the train network, all those travelling via road are advised to leave plenty of time to travel and use park & ride facilities at CCFC Stadium in Leckwith or County Hall in Cardiff Bay, as city centre road closures will be in place.
Richard Rowland GWR customer service and operations director said: “We’re really sorry to all rugby fans who would normally be travelling with us to and from Cardiff Central.
“Unfortunately, due to the limited operating window caused by this industrial action, we’re unable to provide train services after the match and must therefore tell supporters not to travel to the game by train.”
The RMT and TSSA have announced strike action will take place on Saturday 5, Monday 7 and Wednesday 9 November, with TSSA action short of a strike also announced on 4, 6 and 8 November – resulting in almost a full week of rail disruption.
With severe restrictions on the train network, all those travelling via road are advised to leave plenty of time to travel and use park & ride facilities at CCFC Stadium in Leckwith or County Hall in Cardiff Bay, as city centre road closures will be in place.
More travel information can be found at www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/30190.html.
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